Chapter 27

On Idle Speech

You cannot refrain from idle speech. Idle speech is the most destructive thing. Equal to it is the evil when one walks about without guarding one’s feelings. Both hinder progress in prayer very much. When the Jesus Prayer begins to be established in the heart, then the tongue will be bound. Reverence before the present Lord will bind it.

(Letter 896. Vol. 5, p. 166)